Paul Antony Selvadurai, PhD
Lecturer and Senior Researcher at ETH Zurich
I am a geoscientist with a strong interest in earthquake physics, mechanics of fractured porous media, mineral and rock physics and seismology. My research focuses on bridging the fields of geophysics and geomechanics while investigating mechanisms that influence the dynamics of Earth deformation. I am currently based at the Swiss Seismological Service at ETH Zurich.
I study the problem primarily as an experimentalist but believe that the best understanding is supported by theoretical, statistical and computational models. This framework allows for improved understanding of a variety of problems related to tectonophysics, seismology, glaciology, hydrology and the safe and sustainable exploration of geo-energy resources.
Research Focus
My group is partnered with the D-EAPS Rock Physics and Mechanics Laboratory. It is at the forefront of the laboratory study of earthquake mechanics and rock physics.
This research is divided into three categories:
1) Fundamental Science
2) Enabling Innovation
3) Application and Upscaling
Selvadurai, P.A. (2019) “Laboratory insight into seismic estimates of energy partitioning during dynamic rupture: An observable scaling breakdown", Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 124 link
Bianchi, P., Selvadurai, P.A., Dal Zilio, L. et al. (2024) "Pre-Failure Strain Localization in Siliclastic Rocks: A Comparative Study of Laboratory and Numerical Approaches." Rock Mech Rock Eng 57, 5371–5395. link
Selvadurai, P.A., Galvez, P., Mai, P.M., Glaser, S.D. (2023) “Modeling frictional precursory phenomena using a wear-based rate- and state-dependent friction model in the laboratory” Tectonophysics, 847, 229689 link